Truck production company plans 250 jobs in Shallotte

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2012 at 10:58 AM

County officials announced the planned new jobs at a news conference Wednesday morning.

By Jason GonzalesJason.Gonzales@StarNewsOnline.com

NEAH Transportation Holdings, a manufacturer of solar-powered refrigeration units, plans to create as many as 250 jobs in Shallotte within three years, officials announced Wednesday at a press conference. The company recently opened a production plant in the Shallotte Business Park with 14 employees, and Wednesday was the companies' official unveiling of its intentions.Steve Kehrer, chief operating officer of NEAH, said the company will produce a refrigerated transportation vehicle powered by solar energy and natural gas. The trucks will be shipped to the company where employees will install solar panels and batteries to run the refrigerator units. The engines on the trucks will also be converted to use natural gas as fuel.The hope is that the location will serve as a hub for the NEAH's operations as it expands. The company is still renovating the facility, but the first units are expected to be out the door by the beginning of the year. The business park is off N.C. 130 west of Shallotte."We will be starting production in two weeks," Kehrer said. Truck transportation is a $250 billion industry in the United States, said Karl Miller, chairman of the NEAH parent company, NEAH Energy."The economy is in a recession, so we knew that we needed to look at what is a requirement for a business," Miller said.Most transportation units use diesel to power the refrigerator units. "You need to save money to make money, and food service is losing too much in transit," Miller said. Kehrer added: "This will save money and also reduce the carbon footprint of companies drastically." NEAH Transportation Holdings already has a number of contracts in place, but Kehrer wouldn't name the clients because of confidentiality agreements.He did say some of his units will be shipped to South America, and the company will use the ports in Norfolk or Charleston to ship those units because Wilmington lacks deep-water capabilities. He said he likes Shallotte's proximity to both ports.The company chose the Shallotte Business Park because of a listing at the Brunswick County Economic Development Commission's website, Kehrer said."I called up Jim (Bradshaw, economic development commission director) and said, ‘What do you have?'" Kehrer said.The two, along with Shallotte officials, worked to expedite the permitting process. Kehrer said the company has spent millions to get started in Shallotte and did not use any government incentives.Shallotte Mayor Sara McCullough said it will be a boon for the area."It's big for the town. It's big for Brunswick County and Columbus County," she said. "We hope this has a snowball effect and attracts other business."Kehrer added that he likes being sandwiched between Myrtle Beach and Wilmington because he believes he can find skilled workers here."This area is underutilized," said Kehrer. "There are 6,000 people out of work here. I'm hoping I can find a few hundred to employ."People interested in jobs can apply through the N.C. Employment Security Commission.